Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Nexteer (beijing) Technology Co., Ltd.

Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation

Nsk Americas, Inc.

Damir Menjak

Ratko Menjak

Melvin Lee Tinnin

Michael Patrick Anspaugh

William David Cymbal

Troy A Daenzer

Allan L Dickinson

Stephen E Koehr

Steven James Collier-Hallman

Timothy Wesley Kaufmann

Richard Paul Nash

Brian Jerome Magnus

Karen Ann Boswell

James Myrl Card

Stephen Vincent Gillman

Michael James Cole

Joseph R Streng

Neal Richard Roller

Scott Lewis Strong

Jason R Ridgeway

Olivier Pugliese

Samuel Nashef

An energy absorption module subassembly for a steering column assembly comprising; an energy absorption device; and a retainer assembled with the energy absorption device configured for i) installation into at least a portion of a column housing of the steering column assembly at a first location; ii) supportively carrying the energy absorption device at least partially within the retainer; and enabling the retainer to at least partially deform in response to a load occasioned during an impact collapse stroke of an inner column tube of the steering column assembly that forces the retainer to translate in a forward direction to a second location that is forward in a vehicle relative to the first location.

Energy absorption module for vehicle steering column assembly

The invention provides a lever assembly for controlling a lock of a steering column assembly. The lever assembly includes a first lever portion pivotable about a locking axis between a locked position for substantially preventing adjusting movement of a steering column assembly and an unlocked position spaced from the locked position. The steering column assembly is moveable in adjusting movement when the first lever portion is in the unlocked position. The lever assembly also includes a second lever portion defining a handle portion and operable to rotate about the locking axis. The lever assembly also includes a lost motion linkage disposed between the first lever portion and the second lever portion. The lost motion linkage is operable to transmit rotation of the second lever portion about the locking axis to pivot the first lever portion between the locked position and the unlocked position. The lost motion linkage is also operable to yield in response to movement of the second lever portion in a direction parallel to the locking axis.

Lock lever on steering column

A collapsible steering column assembly having a variable energy absorption curve is disclosed. The assembly includes a column jacket and an energy absorption device defining a deformation channel. A strap, interconnecting the column jacket and the energy absorption device, is disposed within the channel and moves along a deformation path in response to collapse of the column jacket. A pin is moveable into the deformation channel by a pyrotechnic device to alter the deformation path. Accordingly, the energy absorption device absorbs energy at a first rate when the pin is not disposed in the deformation channel, and absorbs energy at a second higher rate when the pin is disposed in the deformation channel.

Collapsible steering column assembly

An adjustable steering column assembly including a column jacket moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a raking direction is disclosed. First and second gears are coupled to a rake bracket and mesh with each other with the first gear rotatable about a first pivot axis transverse to a longitudinal axis and the second gear rotatable about a second pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal axis and spaced above the first pivot axis such that rotation of the first gear causes rotation of the second gear. A cam mechanism is coupled to the rake bracket and to each of the first and second gears with the cam mechanism movable along the first and second pivot axes during rotation of the first and second gears for selectively engaging the rake bracket to prevent movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping and raking directions.

Adjustable steering column assembly

A steering column assembly includes a column jacket extending along a longitudinal axis. A mounting bracket is coupled to the column jacket and includes a first plate disposed adjacent the column jacket and a second plate disposed opposite the column jacket from the first plate. A first clamp shaft is coupled to and extends through the first plate along a first transverse axis. A second clamp shaft is coupled to and extends through the second plate along a second transverse axis. The first and second transverse axes intersect the column jacket. A cam mechanism is coupled to the first clamp shaft for moving the first clamp shaft axially along the first transverse axis. A bridge includes a generally U-shaped cross section partially encircling the column jacket to interconnect the first clamp shaft and the second clamp shaft for moving the second clamp shaft concurrently with the first clamp shaft.

Over-center locking mechanism for steering column assembly

A steering column assembly of a vehicle has a rocker-arm lock device for locking an adjustable steering housing and co-extending steering shaft to a stationary bracket or chassis. For driver convenience and comfort, the steering housing and shaft are together adjustable with respect to the bracket. The rocker-arm lock device has a slot in at least one of the housing and bracket and a carrier for longitudinal movement through the slot that is substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis of the steering shaft. An indexing apparatus of the device has first and second indexing rails carried by at least one of the housing and the bracket having the first slot and a carriage engaged rigidly to the carrier. A rocker arm of the apparatus is supported pivotally to the carriage about a rocker axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the carrier. The rocker arm carries first and second pads spaced diametrically outward from one another with respect to the rocker axis and facing laterally toward respective first and second indexing rails for selective engagement of at least one of the first and second pads to the respective first and second indexing rails.

Rocker-arm lock device of an adjustable steering column assembly

A position control apparatus for a motor vehicle steering column includes an outer bracket, an inner bracket moveable relative to the outer bracket, and a jacket mounted to the inner bracket for telescoping movement along a longitudinal axis and for tilting movement. A first rack is mounted to the inner bracket and extends along the longitudinal axis. A first pinion is rotatable along the first rack during telescoping movement. A second rack is mounted to the outer bracket and extends angularly relative to the longitudinal axis. A second pinion is rotatable along the second rack during tilting movement. The first pinion has a first locking surface and the second pinion has a second locking surface. The first locking surface and the second locking surface may be engaged with each other to prevent telescoping and tilting movement or may be disengaged from each other to allow telescoping and tilting movement.

Position control apparatus for steering column

The invention provides a steering column assembly for a vehicle and a method for manufacturing the steering column assembly. The steering column assembly includes a steering column member having an aperture extending along an axis. The steering column assembly also includes a steering shaft rotatably disposed at least partially in the aperture. The steering shaft includes a steering wheel engaging end axially spaced from the aperture. The steering column assembly also includes a supporting member for supporting a vehicle accessory. The supporting member is cantilevered from the steering column member and cooperates with the steering column member to define a groove substantially surrounding the steering wheel engaging end.

Stationary wheel hub

A vehicle steering device may include a rotatable input shaft, a motor in communication with an input augmentation shaft, the input augmentation shaft and the input shaft sharing a longitudinal axis, and the motor further having a stator stationary with respect to rotation of the input shaft. The vehicle steering device may further include a differential mechanism for providing variable ratio steering to the steering device. The differential mechanism may be a harmonic drive differential or a planetary gearing system. In one embodiment, an external wave generator may be used within the harmonic drive differential gearing mechanism. The vehicle steering device may include a sensorless synchronous machine.

Vehicle steering device and method

An apparatus has an adjustable steering column that moves between first and second positions along a path. The path defines tilting movement of at least a portion of the steering column, telescoping movement of at least a portion of the steering column, or both tilting and telescoping movement. The apparatus also includes a lock moveable between locked and unlocked positions. When the lock is in the locked position, the steering column can not move adjustably along the path. When the lock is in the unlocked position, the steering column can be adjusted along the path. The apparatus also includes a switch operable to emit an unlock signal, and a controller communicating with the switch to receive the unlock signal. The controller controls the lock to move to the unlocked position in response to the unlock signal. The apparatus also includes a signal generator operable to emit a second signal to the controller. The controller overrides the unlock signal and controls the lock to move to the locked position in response to the second signal.

Rake and telescope column lock safety function

The gear mechanism for minimizing backlash may include a convoluted spring positioned between an external spline of a gear or shaft and an internal spline of a gear. The gear mechanism may include a cam and cam follower arrangement upon two adjacent gears positioned on the same shaft. Two stacked gears may include a U-shaped backlash eliminating element passing through both gears. The gear mechanism may include rollers which may be conically shaped.

Gear backlash elimination and adjustable gear backlash mechanism

A steering actuator for adjusting an angle of a steerable wheel of a motor vehicle includes an electronic controller, a rack translatable in opposing directions, and a sleeve assembly translatable along a length of the rack and disposed in mechanical communication with the steerable wheel of the vehicle. The rack is drivable in response to an operator input and further drivable in response to an input signal from the electronic controller. A method of using the actuator includes receiving an input from the operator of the vehicle, receiving an input signal indicative of the behavior of the vehicle from a sensing device, calculating an output signal from the operator input and the motor vehicle behavior input signal, and adjusting an angle of the steerable wheel based on the output signal.

Growing community of inventors

Frankenmuth, MI, United States of America

Damir Menjak